Charles it



No. 624,873. Patented May 9, I899.

c. H. SAPPEB.

CARPET STBETGHER. 1

(Application filed June 15, 1898.)

(No Model.)

THE Nonms PETERS co, PNOTOLITHO wnsmnmom 0. c4

Mrs TATES I ATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. SAPPER, OF NEWBURG, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JEREMIAH M. SHEEHAN, OF SAME PLACE.

CARPET-STRETCHE'R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No; 624,873, dated May 9, 1899.

Application filed June 15,1898. Serial No. 683,456. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

1 Be it known that I, CHARLES H. SAPPER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newburg, in the county of Orange and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Carpet-Stretchers, of. which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in carpet-stretchers which comprise a stationary part and a movable part engaged therewith, the said movable part being provided with means for positively moving it'toward the stationary part.

The objects of my invention are-to provide a carpet-stretcher of the above character in which the carpet may be stretched without injury and in which one person can stretch even the heaviest carpet into position and at the same time stand upon the carpet while it is being stretched. I r

A further object is to provide a stretcher which will deliver the edge of the carpet close to the base-board or wall in full position for tacking and at the same time'will not lift the edge of the carpet any considerable distance from the floor.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings,

in which Figure 1 represents a side view of the stretcher in position for use. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3, a front view.

Fig. 4 is a rear view. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section in the plane of the line 5 5 of Fig. 1 looking toward the rear of the stretcher. Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section taken in the plane of the line 6 6 of Fig. 1 looking toward the front of the stretcher. Fig. 7 is a side View of the stretcher with the parts all folded with the exception of the handle, which is shown raised a slight distance from its folded position to clearly show the method of releasing the upper operating-pawl-when it is desired to slide the movable member rearwardly.

The stationary member of the stretcher comprises a suitable head A, having a rearwardlyextended shank a, which shank is provided with series'of teeth a (t along its upper and lower edges, forming rackbars which are adapted to be engaged by the pawls carried by the operating-handle, to be hereinafter described. The head A of the stationary inemher is provided with a pointed lower end (t which is to be driven into the floor when. the stretcher is in use.

The means which I employ for driving the pointed end a into the floor comprises a gravity-hammer B, which is fitted to slide upon a swinging arm I). This arm I) is hinged at Z) to the upper portion of thehead A, so that it may be swung into a substantially horizontal position along the shank ct or into a substantially vertical position projecting above the top of the head A. When the arm Z) is in the vertical position, the hammer B is locked in position to strike the top of the head. I provide a set-screw 19 which enters the head A, which screw engages one edge of the arm I) when it is in its folded or horizontal position for preventing the arm from being raised and which engages the opposite edge of said arm when it is in its raised position for looking it in said position. The arm I) may be provided at its free end with a retaining-pin b for pre- The rear end of the shank ct is provided with a support C, which support is hinged to the said shank and is adapted to be folded along the same when the stretcher is not in use. This support consists of the following parts: A yoke c is hinged at o to the shank a. A pair of legs 0 c are hinged at c tothe yoke 0, so as to swing in a planeat substantially right angles to the plane in which the yoke swings. desired length and when swung outwardly, as in use, theyprojectaconsiderable distance to each side of the shank a and form a rigid support therefor. When the legs are folded and the yoke c swung inwardly, the said legs .85 These legs 0 0 may be of any are located along the under edge of the said movable jaw d. This slide D is fitted to move forward and backward along the shank a toward and away from the head A of the stationary member. The stationary jaw (1 projects downwardly and forwardly from the slide D and may be provided at its free end with corrugations, as shown. jaw d is hinged at d to the lower portion of the slide D at its forward end, as shown at (1 the free end of the said jaw being preferably corrugated, asshown. The position of this movable law is such that when swung rearwardly plenty of room will be afforded between the two jaws for the insertion of the edge of the carpet, and when swung forwardly the carpet will be gripped firmly between the two jaws.

The means which I employ for positively moving the movable member toward the stationary member comprises ahandle E, hinged at e to the slide D, the said handle being provided with upper and lower pawls 6' e arranged in position to alternately engage the teethin the upper and lower racks a a The lower pawl e is provided with a suitable spring a tending to hold its nose in engagement with the teeth, and the upper pawl c is operated by gravity. The upper pawl e is provided with a laterally-extended thumbpiece a, bymeans of which the said pawl can be readily raised out of the plane of the teeth a. In the present instance the inner end of the handle E is bifurcated, the arms 6 e thereof extending down the opposite sides of the slide D, the upper pawl (2 being hinged between the branches above the slide and the lower pawl 6 being hinged between the branches below the slide.

Supposing the carpet-stretcher to be in its folded position and it be desired to put the same into use, the head is placed at the point -to which it is desired to stretch the carpet.

The set-screw b is then unscrewed and the arm b swung into its vertical position, when the said set-screw may be again screwed inwardly for locking the arm in its vertical position. The gravity-hammer may then be raised and allowed to fall on the top of. the head A, thereby driving its point a firmly into the floor. into position to support the rear end of the shank a. The edge of the carpet is then' inserted between the two jaws d d of the slide D while the slide is at a point distant from the head A. The handle E may then be swung upwardly and downwardly, thereby causing the slide to be positively forced toward the head A.

When it is desired to move the slide D rearwardly, the handle E is rocked to a point where the lower pawl 6 will be engaged by the slide D, forcing it out of the plane of the teeth a and the gravity-pawl 6 may then be raised out of the plane of the teeth a.

When the stretcher is in its folded position,

The movable The su ort C is then swung- Pp it is very compact and can be placed in a small box or other package for transportation.

It is evident that slight changes may beresorted. to in the construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself strictly to the structure herein set forth; but

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a carpet-stretcher, a stationary member comprising a head and a shank, a movable member fitted to slide along the shank and a folding support hinged to the free end of the shank, substantially as set forth.

2. In a carpet-stretcher, a stationary member comprising a head and ashank, a movable member fitted to slide along the shank and a folding support carried by the free end of the shank, substantially as set forth.

3. In a carpet-stretcher, a stationary member comprising a head and a shank, a movable member fitted to slide along the shank, a support hinged to the free end of the shank so as to swing into and out of operative position and means for securing the support in its operative position, substantially as set forth.

4. In a carpet-stretcher, a stationary member having a suitable head, a movable mem ber engaged with the stationary member, the said stationary member having the lower end of its head pointed, an arm hinged to the head so as to swing into substantially horizontal and vertical positions and a gravity-hammer fitted to slide on said arm and arranged in position to strike the head when the arm is in its vertical position,substantially as set forth.

5. I11 a carpet-stretcher, a stationary member having a suitable head, a movable member engaged with the stationary member, the said stationary member having the lower end of its head pointed, an arm hinged to the head so as to swing into substantially horizontal and vertical positions, a hammer fitted to slide thereon and means for securing the arm in its horizontal or vertical position, substantially as set forth.

6. In a carpet-stretcher, a stationary member comprising a head and a shank having racks along its upper and lower edges, a movable member comprising a slide provided with gripping-jaws, the said slide being fitted to travel along the shank, a handle hinged to the slide, a gravity-pawl hinged to the handle in position to engage the upper rack and a spring-actuated pawl hinged to the handle in position to engage the lower rack of the shank, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myinvention I have signed my name, in pres ence of two witnesses, this 25th day of May, 1898.

. CHARLES H. SAPPER.

WVitnesses:

J. M. SHEEHAN, A. B. I-lnnens. 

